About 1,400 teachers, school administrators and members of various law enforcement agencies from across the state took part in the Tenth Annual Safe Schools Initiative Seminar at the University at Buffalo Friday.
U.S. Attorney William Hochul says the seminar, coming just 91-days after Sandy Hook, is significant.
"It was Columbine that really brought to our attention the capacity of students or young people to kill other young people. But until last year, nobody would have thought that the victims could have included 20, six-year-old children," said Hochul.
The US Attorney says school violence is a relatively new phenomenon that is happening with increasing frequency.
The focus of the day-long seminar is on preventing attacks and protecting children.
"The Safe Schools Seminar provides a forum for educators and law enforcement personnel to come together and assist each other in their important efforts to serve and protect our children and our communities," said Dennis Black, vice president for university life and services at UB.